West Coast Coolin

Norman Brown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B0002M5TC0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #61,250 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Each of his five albums has charted Top 5 Contemporary Jazz and his last four have also reached the R&B Top 50. A Smooth Jazz star with a major Urban AC audience, Norman Brown follows 2002’s Grammy®-winning Just Chillin’ with West Coast Coolin’, featuring songs written by Eric Benét, James Poyser and Norman Brown himself. Renowned for his guitar sound, Brown now debuts his sexy, slick vocals on West Coast Coolin’, including a remake of Marvin Gaye’s classic "What’s Goin’ On." As West Coast Coolin’ proves, there’s no one smoother or cooler than Norman Brown.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Soothing & Soulful...., September 26, 2004

By 

E. B. Hopkins "Minister Of Sound" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: West Coast Coolin (Audio CD)

I was very excited when I first learned of the Norman Brown CD coming out, I have all the others, and I had to be first online to get it. My wife and I took a ride in the sunny (yes, sunny) afternoon sunshine of Seattle and we listened...intently.

This effort seems to fortify my original thoughts about Norman and his guitar playing skills. This man plays the guitar as if it's a part of his soul, and he brings that passion to life with this release. Is it his best thus far? No, but it's well worth the money if you're a Norman Brown fan, and a Smooth Jazz Guitar fan, you can't sleep on this one.

Being a Electronica musician myself, I can appreciate Norman's Pro Tools programming on this CD, it's not easy. If anyone says it is, they have no clue.

It's hard to pick a favorite track right now, but I'd say that 'Come Over' was the track that really caught my ear. Its sexy, sultry feel sounded oh so good and so old school with the nu school twist.

No, Norman's not Wes and he's never attempted to be. As was mentioned earlier however, you can't listen without hearing George Benson's influence big time within the music! I believe that if George was at a youthful stage today in his music career, he'd sound allot like this.

Bottom line, get this one! The vocal offerings are just fantastic too! The Marvin Gaye remake of 'What's Going On' is simply inspired! I can foresee another Grammy award for Mr. Brown! This one's hott! Yes, with 2 T's!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable laidback jazz, July 8, 2005

By 

Motownphilly "Music lover" (France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Coast Coolin (Audio CD)

Smooth jazz really suffer from a terrible reputation, and I think it's not totally deserved. I think artists like Kenny G. are largely responsible of that fact.
However, with albums like "West Coast Coolin", I think this genre can't go wrong. Norman Brown is to me an artist which follows the footsteps of the great George Benson (that's not to say he's got his genius though).
It's really a dilemma for me to chose between the R&B vocal songs like the funky "I Might", which features the delicious voice of Carole Riddick, and the chillout "cool" jazz tracks focused on guitar-playing like "Up' N' At 'Em" or "Let's Play".
Of course, if you like jazz for its improvisation, please look elsewhere, but if you like your jazz melodic and soothing, this is for you. Many soul heads, such as Eric Benét, James Poyser, Jay Dee, have worked on this album.
It's a delightful album which would deserve to be taken seriously, at least taken more seriously than just as mood music, and to be really listened (I mean a "concentrated listening") like any jazz album would need, no matter what the sub-genre is

TOP 5
1. I Might
2. Up 'N' At 'Em
3. West Coast Coolin'
4. Let's Play
5. Come Over

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool, Cool Norman Brown, August 30, 2005

By 

Michael K. Watts "Music Critic" (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: West Coast Coolin (Audio CD)

It was always clear from his background vocals and scats that jazz guitarist Norman Brown could sing. And on West Coast Coolin', his slick, macking on "I Might" and the mature, articulate croons of "Angel" expose a charming facet of his artistry. Still, Brown's vocals dance in unison with his sprightly guitar, a manifestation of George Benson's influence. His guitar strums speak emotions loud enough to feel on standout instrumentals like "Missin' You." When he abandons an established melody for a freestyle jaunt, as on the breezy groove "Up 'N' At 'Em," Brown is at his best.